Lateral Release - no longer an option for the surgical treatment of knee cap dislocation

For many decades Lateral Release was the most popular surgical treatment for chronic patella instability.

The severing of the outer retaining ligaments of the patella (lateral release or cleavage of the lateral retinaculum) was, for a long time, considered an appropriate solution to the instability of the patella. It was believed that by cutting through the outer bands of the ligament, the patella would return to its natural position, thus reducing the tendency to dislocate.

However, clinical and biomechanical studies have shown that the opposite is in fact the case. If you cut the outer retaining straps on the patella, the patella is still unstable and the tendency to dislocate is actually increased.

This surgical procedure is therefore not suited for the treatment of chronic instability of the patella. However, it could still be an appropriate way of relieving pain in the outer joint area behind the knee cap if conditions are otherwise generally stable. Lateral Release is not offered at the Gelenk Klink as a suitable therapeutic approach for cases of chronic patella dislocation.